Aalborg Zoo in Denmark has sparked international controversy after requesting donations of unwanted healthy small pets to feed its predators.
The zoo posted its appeal on Facebook on 31 July, garnering more than 200 comments before closing the comment section due to overwhelming reactions.
Aalborg Zoo Requests Unwanted Pets as Natural Prey for Carnivorous Animals
The facility seeks donations of chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs. These animals will be “humanely euthanised” by trained staff before being fed to the zoo’s carnivorous animals, including the Eurasian lynx.
The zoo also accepts donations of live horses. These must come with a “horse passport” and the opportunity for a tax deduction based on the animal’s weight value.
Zoo officials explained that donated pets will be eaten whole by predators. This feeding method mimics what these animals would naturally hunt in the wild.
“Chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs make up an important part of the diet for our predators,” the zoo stated in its Facebook post. The institution emphasized its responsibility to recreate natural feeding behaviours for both animal welfare and professional integrity.
“That way, nothing goes to waste and we ensure natural behaviour, nutrition, and well-being of our predators,” the zoo added.
All donated animals must be healthy. The zoo accepts donations only under specific guidelines detailed on their official website.
Mixed Public Response Sparks International Debate
The Facebook post drew swift backlash from both local and international commenters. Many users expressed outrage at the concept of using pets as animal feed.
“Shame on you,” numerous netizens wrote, with some calling the practice of requesting owners’ pets inhumane. Critics described the initiative as having a “deeply perverse and degrading mindset” behind what they termed a “sick idea”.
Some commenters mocked the program by jokingly asking if the zoo would accept children as donations.
However, not all responses were negative. Several supporters defended the initiative as more respectful than other disposal methods for unwanted pets.
One commenter shared their positive experience, stating that handing over a rabbit had been a “nice and professional experience”.
The zoo initially restricted comments to users who had followed the page for over 24 hours. As international attention mounted, officials eventually closed the comment section entirely due to what they called “significant international interest”.
“We understand that the post evokes emotions and curiosity, but hateful and malicious rhetoric is not necessary — and we encourage respectful dialogue,” the zoo stated. The facility noted that questions remain welcome through email or Facebook messages.
Comments were disabled on the original Instagram post, though users flocked to other posts by the organisation to express their views on the controversial program.
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